Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-15
Allan Qaa'tstn.iis;
4 BROWNING CITY.
BY Ell. Rider Haggard, AutAoro ..
"Kin2 Selomon's Mines, "Sne', III. We.

1t seems almost laughable to talk of steel
shirts in these days of bullets. against
which they are, of course, quite useless:
but where one has to do with savages,
armed with cutting weapons, such as as
segals or battle-axes, they afford the most
valuable protection, being, If well made,
quite lnyulnerable to them. I have often
thought that if only the English govern
ment had in our savage wars, and more
especially in the Zulu war, thought fit to
serve out light steel shirts, there would be
many man alive to-day, who, as it is. is
dead and forgotten.
To return: on the present occasion we
blessed our foresight in bringing these
shirts, and also our good luck, in that they
had not been stolen by our rascally bear
ers when they boIted with our goods. AS
Curtis had two, and, after considerable de-
liberation, had made up his mind to wear
his combination one himself-the extra
three or four pounds weight being matter
Of no account to so strong man, and the
protection afforded to the thighs being a
very important matter to an individual not
armed vith shield of any kind-I sug-
gested that he should lend the other to
Umslopogaas. who was to share the dan
ger dnll Tic SlDIJ III LIS EOob. IIc IceIull1
consented, and called the Zulu, who came
bearing Sir Henry'S ak, which he had now
fixed up to his satisfaction, with him.
When he showed him the steel shirt, and
explained to him that he wanted him to
wear it, he at first declined, saying that he
had fought in his own skin for thirty years,
and that he was not going to begin now to
fight in an iron one. ThereupOl ] took a
heavy spear, and, spreading the shirt upon
the floor, drove the spear down upon it
with all my strength, the weapon rebound
ing without leaving q mark upon the tenn
pered steel. This exhibition half converted
him, and when pointed out to him how
necessary it was that he should not let any
old-fashioned prejudices he might possess
stand in the way of a precaution that
might preserve q valuable life at time
when men were scarce, and also that if he
wore this shirt he might dispense with a
shield, and SO have both hands free, he
yielded at once, and proceeded to invest his
great frame with the Iron skin" And,
indeed, although made for Sir Henry, it
fitted the great Zulu like skin. The two
men were almost of q height; and, though
Curtis looked the bigger man, am inclined
to think that the difference was more
imaginary than real, the fact being that,
although he was plumper and rounder, he
was not really bigger, except in the arm.
Umslopogaas had comparatively speaking,
thin arms, but they were as strong as wire
ropes. At any rate, when they both stood,
ak in hand, invested in the brown mail,
which chung to their mighty forms like a
web garment, showing the swell of every
muscle, and the curve of every line, they
formed q pair that any ten men might
shrink from meeting.
1T, was now nearly one o'clock in the
morning, and the spies reported that, after
having drunk the blood of the oxen and
eaten enormous quantities OF meat, the
Nasal were going to sleep round the watch
fires; but that sentries had been posted at
each opening of the kraal. Floss-e, they
added, was sitting not far from the wall in
the center of the western side of the kraal,
and by her were the nurse and the white
donkey, which was tethered to peg. Her
feet were bound with d rope, and warriors
were lying about all round her.
As there was absolutely nothing further
that could be done then, we all took some
supper, and went to lie down for a couple
of hours. | could not help admiring the
way in which old Umslopogaas flung him
self down upon the floor, and. unmindful
of what was hanging over him, instantly
sank into a deep sleep. [ don't know how
it was with the others, but [ could not do
as much Indeed as is usual with me on
these occasions, am sorry to say that
felt rather frightened; and, now that some
of the enthusiasm had gone out of me, and
began to calmly contemplate what we
had undertaken to do, truth c0mDelS me to
add that | did not like it. We were but
thirty men all told q good many of whom
were, no doubt, quite unused to fighting
and we were going to tackle two hundred
and fifty of the tiercest bravest, and most
formidable savages in AflIca, who, to make
matters worse, were protected by a stone
wall, Tt was, indeed, a mad undertaking
and what made it even madden was the
exceeding improbability of our being able
to take up our positions without attracting
the notice of the sentries. OF course if we
once did that-and any slight accident
such as the chance discharge of a gun
might do tive were done for, for the
whole camp would be up in q second anC
our only hope lay in g surprise.
The bed whereon | lay indulging in these
uncomfortable reflections was near an oper
window that looked on the veranda
through which came an extraordinary
sound of groaning and weeping. For s
time | could rot make out what it was; but
at last cot NJ, and. putting my head out
Of the willov. stared about. Presently
saw dim figure knce1ing on the end of
the veranda and beating his breast-in
which recognized AlphoEse. Not being
able to understand his French talk, or
what on earth he was at, l called to him
and asked him what he was doing
''Ah, monsieur" he sighed, II do make
prayer for the souls OF those whom I shall
slay tonight"
Indeed / said; then wish that you
would do it a little more quietly"
Alphonse retreated, and | heard no more
Of his groans. And so the time passed, till
at length Mr. Mackenzie called me in a
whisper through the window, for, of course,
everything had now to be done in the most
absolute silence. "Three O'clock" he
SAID; I'VE must begin to move at half-past.' .
told him to come in, and presently he
entered; and | am bound to say that if it
mad not been that just then had not got
laugh anywhere about me. I should have
exploded at the sight he presented armed
for battle. TO begin with. he had on a
clergyman's black swallow-tail and q kind
.~cI vi,